Preparing for Rain

Revival week is upon us at First Baptist, and already God has done some interesting and wonderful things. The evangelist team that we had scheduled for the week had to cancel due to a family emergency, and God almost immediately filled the vacancy with another who just happened to have this week open due to a cancellation. "Just happened"? Not likely. Nothing just happens when God is in control. Again, He demonstrates His infinite wisdom and sovereignty in our lives. God is good. God provides, far beyond what we could ask for or even hope for.

I've also had my share of moments these last few weeks. Several letters went out to those of the younger generation of our church who are gifted with musical ability, asking them to be a part of a mission trip to Brazil next summer, to join a music conference there. I sent them. One person publicly stepped forward in faith last Sunday night, to announce his intention to lead this team to Brazil. That would be me. I can only assume that the Spirit of God prompts me to do some of these things I do now, because as I look back on what's happened lately, I keep thinking... "I must be crazy!"

Do I have any idea how this trip is getting paid for? Not when I look at it on paper (or in my case, a computer screen). Am I worried about it? Not really. This is God's trip. If He wants it to happen, He'll keep the door open. I've seen Him provide in miraculous ways before, and I have no doubt that if this is what He wants, He'll do it again. I just have to remember to quit looking at the mountain in front of me and instead focus on who made the mountain in the first place. It still amazes me how small our problems become when we focus on the Lord.

Do I have any idea who's going with me? Not a clue. Even if it turns out to be just me, I'm committed to going, right up to the point when and if God closes the door. Again, this is God's trip. My job in the meantime is to prepare everything I can, while continuing to ask Him to provide what I need. (That's need, not want.) God knows exactly how much it's going to cost. He knows exactly who's going and how they will be used by Him. He knows how each heart will be changed by the experience. How can I not trust a God who knows everything, who loves me enough to exchange the life of His own Son for mine?

I was recently reminded of a great story that I believe applies in this case. Have a look at the other blogs listed to your left, and I'm sure you'll figure out what reminded me.

"I heard a story once, of two farmers who prayed for rain, but only one of the farmers went out and prepared his fields to receive it. Which one do you think trusted God to send the rain?"
"Well, the one who prepared his fields for it."
"Which one are you? God will send the rain when He is ready. Your job is to prepare your field to receive it."

It almost sounds like a parable you might find in the Bible, right? See if you can find it. In the meantime, I'll be preparing for rain.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. - Psalm 37:5

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21

PS- AWANA starts tomorrow night. Pray for us!

Afterthoughts

Last time around, Job was all I could think about, mostly because the last lecture I had listened to had made a profound impact on me. I think that, for the first time, I truly began to understood just how deep the meaning of the phrase "the fear of the Lord" goes. All too often, we're led to believe that it simply means "respect", or "reverence". The phrase does imply both of those attributes, but the possibilities go far beyond an outward showing of respect. Anyone can kneel at an altar, but that doesn't necessarily mean one's heart is in the right place.

For those who deny Jesus as Lord and Savior, an outward showing of respect is the best they'll be able to offer at the Great White Throne, and they will be rejected for it. Only then will they truly understand what it means to fear God. For those of us who accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we do so because we, at some level, understand the fear of the Lord within our hearts. We recognize that our own eternity is within His sovereign hand. We understand that we aren't worthy of Him, but He invites us to come to Him anyway, because He loves us.

The fear of the Lord is understanding that everything you are, everything you have, and everything you experience amount to absolutely nothing in the presence of our holy God. He can steer us down any path He chooses. Our very existence depends on Him. We didn't create this world we live in. We didn't create food, water, and air - the very basics of our survival. He did, and He can just as easily do away with all of it. Your next meal depends on Him. Your next breath depends on Him. Your entire future depends on Him. Imposing thoughts, aren't they?

I have since reread what I wrote last time, and I am able to see things in a new way. I now agree with the rebuke I received from one of my mentors in the faith. "Wow," I thought, "I really did blast Job. He didn't deserve all that!" I suppose that I spent a little too much time on a devotional application of the book, putting myself in Job's shoes before the Creator, while failing to take into account the context of his encounter. I tend to hold myself to a very high standard, and I rake myself over the coals regularly because of it. Apparently, too much of that got projected on Job last time. My apologies.

To Job's credit, God did point him out to Satan first. He did describe him as "perfect" and "upright". Normally, God just brags on Himself (and He has every right to do so, being holy). This time, He actually bragged on Job. An Old Testament saint can't get much more righteous in this sin-cursed world than that! It's difficult for those of us who have been saved by His grace to believe that the holy God of all could brag on one man, a man who had the same sin nature as the rest of us, yet there it is in God's Word.

How blessed we believers in Christ are to be clothed in His righteousness, to be unbound by the law, and to have the privilege of stepping before His throne of grace at any time, knowing that He hears, understands, and loves us. I'm so glad the Lord allowed me to live on this side of the cross. Great is the Lord, and worthy of glory!

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? - Job 1:8